Reversible garment foldable into pocket section

ABSTRACT

A reversible garment has a pocket into which a remainder of the garment can be inserted. In preferred embodiments the garment is a jacket, and the pocket is located at an upper rear portion of the jacket. The pocket can be oversized relative to space needed to accommodate the remainder of the garment, thereby providing significant additional carrying space for other items. Preferred garments include one or more carrying strap, situated about the pocket such that the user can wear the pocket by slinging a strap over her shoulder, or wearing the pocket as a backpack. One or both of the two finished sides of the garment can be treated with a stain resistant composition, and the two sides can have the same, similar, or different colors, textures, and fabrics.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/989,567 filed Nov. 19, 2001, which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/253,001 filed Nov. 27, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is reversible garments.

BACKGROUND

Bag garments are characterized by having a pocket into which the remainder of the garment can be folded or stuffed. A relatively recent example of a convertible coat is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,121 to Harris (December 1999). Earlier bag jackets are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,154 to Itoi (March 1985). These and all other referenced extrinsic materials are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

It is also known to combine a bag garment with a shoulder step or other carrying strap, and in the '154 application it is disclosed that the straps can be used to wear the pocket section of a bag garment as a knapsack. Significantly, however, known bag garments have pockets that are only just large enough to fit the remainder of the garment. That makes sense because the pockets must contain the entire remainder of the garment, and one of ordinary skill in the art would think that a much larger pocket would be unnecessary and possibly unsightly.

The fact is that in the many decades that bag garments have been known, the pockets of bag garments have always been sized and dimensioned to just barely contain the remainder of the garment. In U.S. design Pat. No. 277,049 to Peyser (January 1985), for example, the pocket/carrier bag can only hold one item, the jacket itself and nothing more. The same is true of the combination beach towel and tote bag found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,912 to Damus (August 1989), the jacket and bag found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,629 to Itoi (September 1982), and the combination coat with a built in sleeping bag found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,892 to Gonzales (June 1979).

Reversible garments are characterized by being finished on both sides (what would normally be an inside and an outside), such that the garment has a finished appearance when worn either side out. Such garements usually consist of two shells that are colored, patterned or textured differently from one another to provide two different “looks”. The shells can be coupled together in any suitable fashion, including sewing, zippering, and so forth. Recent examples of reversible jackets are set forth in US publication no. 2004/0163155 to Haughey (published August 2004), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,066 to Brassey (April 2003). Earlier examples of reversible garements are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,539 to Loscher (June 1955).

One significant feature of reversible jackets is that the use of two shells makes them bulkier than normal jackets, and certainly bulkier than a jacket made with either shell by itself. This is generally not a problem, but would dissuade one of ordinary skill in the art from applying the garment-in-a-bag concept to a reversible garment. Thus, it appears that there has never been a reversible garment that has a pocket large enough to receive the remainder the garment, nor any teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a reversible garment has a pocket into which a remainder of the garment can be inserted, and that is oversized so that the pocket can concurrently contain other contents as well.

In preferred embodiments the garment is a jacket, and the pocket is located at an upper rear portion of the jacket. The pocket can be oversized relative to space needed to accommodate the remainder of the garment, thereby providing significant additional carrying space for other items. The additional space is preferably at least 1000 cm³, 2000 cm³, or 3000 cm³.

In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the garment includes one or more carrying strap, situated about the pocket such that the user can wear the pocket by slinging a strap over her shoulder, or wearing the pocket as a backpack.

In another aspect of preferred embodiments, one or both of the two finished sides of the garment can be treated with a stain resistant composition, and the two sides can have the same, similar, or different colors, textures, and fabrics.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the straps (handles) have been brought outside the pocket.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the jacket of FIG. 1 in the process of being stuffed into the pocket.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1, having been converted into a tote bag.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 in its reversible mode.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the garment of FIG. 1 in its reversible mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a preferred outerwear garment in its mode of operation as a casual jacket or the like. Several of the features can be conventional. For example, in this particular embodiment mouth 1 is the head and neck opening of the outerwear garment; buttonhole track 2, along with button 3, comprise a fastening device used to keep the garment closed when being worn as a jacket; and sleeve 4 is used to receive the arms of a wearer, and trunk portion 5 is positionable about the trunk of the wearer. Of course, none of these conventional features should be interpreted as being limiting on the scope of the claimed invention. For example, other contemplated inventive garments might use a zipper in place of, or in addition to, one or more button closures. Similarly, the jacket might well have short sleeves, or might even be sleeveless, as in a vest. Still further, the garment of FIG. 1 should be interpreted as being emblematic of any outerwear garment, including for example a parka, a dress, or a pair of pants.

It should also be appreciated that the garment of FIG. 1 can comprise any suitable fabric or fabrics, including for example, one or more of cotton, rayon, silk, wool or other natural fabrics, and one or more of polyester, nylon, lycra, and so forth. Similarly, it should be appreciated that the entirety or any portion of the fabric or fabrics can be dyed or otherwise colored using any conceivable color, image, pattern and so forth. Indeed, it is still further contemplated that any conceivable water proofing or other coating or additive can be added or impregnated into any or all of the fabric. Nevertheless, in preferred embodiments it is contemplated that at least the two sides of the garment (what would normally be considered an inside and an outside) will be different in appearance. That difference may well comprises the use of different fabrics, patterns or other colorations, the use of chest, sleeve, leg, hip or other auxiliary pockets, and so forth. Thus, FIG. 1 should be interpreted as being emblematic of all possible permutations, including for example a relatively slick, substantially water or wind repellant, less patterned fabric on one side, and a softer, less water repellant, relatively more patterned fabric on the other side. In particular, FIG. 1 should be interpreted as showing: (a) a garment wherein at least one of the sides is treated with a stain resistant composition; (b) a garment wherein the first side has a different color from the second side; (c) a garment wherein the first side has a different texture from the second side; and (d) a garment wherein the first side includes a different type of fabric from the second side.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the garment of FIG. 1. In this particular example, a double layer of material is sewn together to form the back piece of the trunk portion 5 of the outerwear garment seen in FIG. 1. One side of the garment, which can be considered as comprising the top layer of material for purposes of discussion, has a mouth opening identified by 20 that leads to the main pocket 30 into which the remainder of the garment can be inserted. Optional straps 21 are depicted here as drawstrings that can be used to carry the resulting tote bag configuration of the garment. Although any suitable number, arrangement, length, and other configuration of straps can be used, the straps 21 shown in this particular embodiment are threaded through loop hole 22.

The main pocket 30 can be positioned in any suitable functional position on the garment. In this particular embodiment, trunk portion base 6 forms a side wall of the main pocket 30.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outerwear garment as it is being converted into the tote bag mode. Such conversion can be accomplished in any suitable manner, but is most preferably accomplished using a simple two step procedure as follows: first the user turns the outerwear garment over to reveal the mouth opening identified by 20 in FIG. 2; second, the user places his/her hand through the opening until she reaches the seam identified by trunk portion base 6 as viewed in FIG. 2, grabs hold of the material at trunk portion base 6 and pulls upward, thereby turning the sack portion 30 inside out. According to this procedure, the sleeves 4, truck portion 5, button hole track 2 and button 3 along with mouth opening 1 are all received down into sack portion 30 through mouth opening 20.

In FIG. 4 the garment has been converted into the tote bag, and is thereupon ready for use. Mouth opening 20 received sleeves 4, truck portion 5, button hole track 2 and button 3, along with mouth opening 1, and are all tucked down into main pocket 30. In addition, it is especially desirable for main pocket 30 to have sufficient additional room to receive other items such as keys, eye wear and money pouches, while in the tote bag configuration. Sufficient room to store additional items is used herein to mean that while the garment is in the tote bag configuration the main pocket has additional carrying space of at least 500 cm³. More preferably the main pocket has additional carrying space of at least 1000 cm³, and most preferably at least 1000 cm³.

Also shown in FIG. 4, straps 21 can be used to carry the tote bag configuration of the garment, and can be adjusted for use as handles as seen in FIG. 3.

To convert the tote bag back into a jacket, simply reach inside the tote bag and pull out the sleeves 4 and the entire trunk portion 5, button hole track 2 and button 3 will unfold to reveal itself once again as an outerwear garment. You could then place drawstrings 21 inside the mouth opening 20 identified in FIG. 2. The jacket is again now ready to be worn.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the outerwear garment turned inside out and worn in reversible mode. By simply turning the jacket inside out, a user of this particular embodiment achieves a new look that includes interlock-stitching 50 along sleeves 4 a and the entire border of the outerwear garment. Trunk portion 5 a receives the upper part of the body. A fastening track 51 with slider 52 is used to close the garment when said garment is being worn as an outerwear jacket. The inside back panel of the outerwear garment reveals mouth 20 identified in FIG. 2 that leads to sack portion 30 also identified in FIG. 2. The inside back panel of the outerwear garment also reveals loop hole 22 and the straps 21 which are threaded through loop hole 22 and are used to carry the garment when said garment is converted to tote bag function.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the jacket of FIG. 1, with interlock stitching 50 visible as the border design and sleeves 4 a are used to receive arms into the garment. In this view, trunk portion base 6 now functions as the lower trunk portion of trunk portion 60. Trunk portion 60 covers the rear of the upper body and presents a clean, smooth surface as mouth opening 20, Straps 21, loop hole 22 and sack portion 30 from FIG. 2 are now completely concealed.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a reversible tote bag garment have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc. 

1. A reversible garment having opposing first and second finished sides, and a pocket into which a remainder of the garment can be inserted.
 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a carrying strap coupled to the pocket.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the strap is sufficiently long that a user can wear the pocket comprising a carrying strap coupled to the pocket.
 4. The garment of claim 1, further comprising first and second carrying straps sized, dimensioned and positioned to operate as shoulder straps to wear the garment as a backpack.
 5. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sides is treated with a stain resistant composition.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first side has a different color from the second side.
 7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first side has a different texture from the second side.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first side includes a different type of fabric from the second side.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a jacket.
 10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pocket is located at an upper rear portion of the jacket.
 11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pocket is oversized relative to space needed to accommodate the remainder of the garment, thereby providing significant additional carrying space for other items.
 12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the significant additional carrying space is greater than 1000 cm³. 